Hee Hee

So tonight Katie and me are playing while Jason and the boys are out at soccer. Katie is running around and she stops near our time-out chair in the corner of the room. She points at it and says, "Addie's."

The Children's Museum

On Tuesday we went to the Children's Museum in Tacoma and the kids had a great time playing in all the exhibits. They had a fun rock climbing wall and little scooters to ride. They did painting and play dough and they also had an exhibit on farm to grocery store. Katie loved all the bins of play fruits and veggies and loved putting them into her basket. Afterwards we headed over to the deli for some pizza, followed by a trip to the really cool fountain across the street.

Saturday at the Lake

On Saturday we took the kids down to the lake. We had been waiting for warm enough weather so they could get in and swim. We had Doritos, oreos, and lots of sand toys so you know we had a great time. The lake wasn't too crowded, surprisingly, and Jason and the kids had fun swimming. Katie loved the water and the dogs that were all over the park. The weather has been beautiful here and we are really enjoying our summer.

Daddy Love

What are the things that Miss Katie loves? Her brothers, bathtime, dinnertime, doggies, and too many other wonderful things to mention. What is the thing she ADORES more than anything else? Her Daddy.

Katie loves loves loves her daddy. Whenever she hears his voice or the garage door opening because Daddy's home after work she starts yelling, "yea yea yea yea Daddy Daddy Daddy." She runs for the stairs and when she sees him she just starts screaming she is so excited. Whenever he is around she wants him to hold her and she is always just kissing him on the cheeks. I guess we now officially have a daddy's girl over here.

The Wildlife

Today we had a great time at the zoo. We had perfect weather, the animals were feeling energetic, and the kids were amazed. It was a really fun trip and I think part of the reason is just that the kids are at such great ages. They are interested and able to walk and spend a long afternoon out without getting grumpy or tired, for the most part. That includes Katie who just loves being out and about, especially if she's being strolled and drinking a juicebox. One of the first animals we saw were the otters swimming around and spinning in the water. When Katie first saw them she was so happy to see the water she kept shouting water. Then she saw the otters and was watching for a while and said, "meow?" The boys really liked watching the whales and walrus swim around. The walrus was putting on quite a show, getting really close to the glass, so close I was sure he was thinking Katie looked like a delicious little seal. We all really liked the sea horse exhibit and the monkeys, elephants, and tiger.

Slip-n-slide, Sidewalk chalk, and Summer's finally here!

Grandpa

My Grandpa passed away last week and we are sad to lose him, but happy that he will be together with my Grandma again. He was 90 years old and had lived a very great and exciting life.

My grandparents loved to travel. They went all over the world to very exciting places but they would also take smaller trips around the country and take their grandchildren on special trips one at a time. Imagine how fun, just you, without your siblings on a trip with Grandma and Grandpa. For my trip I got to drive with them in their RV from Washington all the way to Florida. I had an amazing time and will always have wonderful memories of my time with them.

My Grandpa moved to the US from Russia when he was young, he was German but living in Russia until the Bolsheviks forced them out, and he and his brothers played polka music. Grandpa played the accordion and on Christmas Eve all growing up I remember him getting out the accordion and playing that polka music and us dancing.

I was so fortunate to have been able to live here in Washington for his last couple of years and get a chance to visit with him once a week. My kids really loved him and he will be missed by our family a lot.